Elsie Vredenburg is probably best known for her pictorial
pieced quilts, which are often combined with elements of traditional patchwork
designs. She prefers piecing to applique, so she has developed a method of
designing in which all elements of the design are converted to straight lines.
This makes for somewhat of an angular look, which is characteristic of her
pictorial quilts. Subject matter ranges from architectural to people to the
animal world.
Elsie’s quilts have appeared in many national and
international quilt shows, including American Quilter’s Society, National
Quilting Association, National Patchwork Association, Quilt Expo Europa,
Quilters Heritage Celebration, Quilt America!, International Quilters
Association. They have also appeared in Quilters Newsletter Magazine, Lady’s
Circle Patchwork Quilts, Quilting Today, and Traditional Quiltworks. Her
article, “From Photo to Fabric: Pieced Architecture” was published in the
Spring 1996 issue of The American Quilter Magazine.
Elsie is a native of Michigan. She received her BS in Home
Economics Education from Michigan State University in 1963, and taught Home
Economics at the high school level for a few years, then decided it was more
important to stay at home with her young children. Her quilting career began at
that time as a way to add a little bit to the family income while staying at
home. She learned to quilt while still in high school, at the insistence of her
grandmother.

Artist’s Statement: “I quilt because I love fabric in its many colors and patterns, and I love cutting it up and sewing it back together to make new designs. Even though I always said I had no artistic talent (translation: ability to draw) and avoided art classes every time I could, I think deep in my heart, this is what I always longed to be able to do. I make quilts for enjoyment, both mine and others’. If I like a quilt when it is finished, I am happy. If others like it, too, I am happier.